Another town evacuated, hundreds more flee as huge wildfire devastates central Washington

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BREWSTER, Wash. — The town of Malott and areas around Brewster were evacuated Friday night as hundreds of more people fled a devastating wildfire that had already scorched nearly 170,000 acres and destroyed up to 100 homes in north-central Washington.

“Simply put, there’s a firestorm in Washington right now,” Gov. Jay Inslee said earlier Friday. “The growth of this fire is almost unprecedented.”

On Friday night, authorities ordered the evacuation of the small town of Malott, Wash., population of about 500, and people from the outskirts of the larger town of Brewster, which is home to about 2,400 people.

Janet Pearce of the Washington state Department of Natural Resources said the four fires that are part of the devastating Carlton Complex Fire had not been contained as of Friday morning. An estimated 80 to 100 homes were destroyed and cell phone service was knocked out. There were no reports of injuries or missing persons.

Flames came over a hill in Pateros and spilled into the town’s valley Thursday, Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said. The entire town of Pateros, roughly 650 people, was evacuated Thursday night, he said, and most of the homes caught fire.

The Carlton Complex Fire exploded from about 47,000 acres Thursday to 168,713 acres on Friday. Inslee said there is extreme danger with this fire that moved 20 miles overnight. To see a map (or to enlarge) click here.

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I'd love to see some good news or success stories from the wildfires. I know all of the firefighters are working hard, It would be nice to see some of the areas and neighborhoods that have been saved and not just the areas where the fire won.